Israel confirmed on Tuesday that it had killed Hashem Safieddine, the Hezbollah official expected to succeed Hassan Nasrallah as the group’s leader, in an airstrike outside Beirut. Safieddine was killed about three weeks ago in an attack on a Hezbollah intelligence headquarters in Dahieh, Beirut, along with the group’s intelligence chief Ali Hussein Hazima. Israeli army chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi stated that Israel had targeted Safieddine, Nasrallah, and other Hezbollah leaders to safeguard Israeli civilians.
This strike, part of an escalating offensive in Lebanon, has left Hezbollah in disarray, with dozens of members killed, including top leaders. Safieddine, in his 60s and designated a terrorist by the U.S., oversaw Hezbollah’s financial and military affairs and was seen as the group’s future leader. Israeli officials also confirmed further strikes in southern Beirut, targeting Hezbollah facilities.
The announcement of Safieddine’s death coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Israel, where he discussed security cooperation and efforts to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza. Blinken highlighted the opportunity created by the death of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader responsible for a previous terrorist attack on Israel, to end the conflict and ensure Israel’s security. Discussions also focused on deterring aggression from Iran, providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, and stabilizing the situation in the region.
The delegation’s departure from Israel was briefly interrupted by rocket fire from Hezbollah, which was intercepted by Israel. The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to Israel’s security and ongoing efforts to address the complex challenges in the region.
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